“Individual” in Education according to the Fundamentals of Existence Philosophy: Emphasizing Ideas by Buber and Kierkegaard

Abstract

This study aims to explain the place of individual as well
as the ways to maintain individuality in education according to the
ideas of existence thinkers. Putting emphasis on individuality
could be taken as one of the most significant basics of existence
philosophy. Existence philosophy has been applied widely in
various fields including education. The existence thinkers believe
that today the individuality of human being has been lost among
the masses and it has been invaded. This study, by applying the
comparative analysis method and philosophical inquiry,
recommends that the teacher should establish a one to one
interaction with students through a Socratic method and s/he
should provide the background for students to become self. This
goal could be achieved through methods such as changing the
teacher-students pattern of interaction to teacher-student,
decreasing the number of students in a classroom, taking the
standpoint of students by the teacher so that the teacher is able to
reach an improved understanding of the students.